Victoria Square have announced the exciting addition to the centre

The North Face is set to open its very first standalone store in Northern Ireland.

The clothing retailer has announced it is opening a store in Victoria Square, Belfast.

The shopping centre took to social media and said, “The North Face is coming soon to Victoria Square. Stay tuned for more!”

Alongside the post, hoarding has gone up outside the store on the lower ground of the centre, announcing the brand’s arrival.

The signage goes on to say “The North Face opening soon: 2026 Belfast“.

It has become famous for its outerwear and activewear since its inception in 1966.

According to its website, The North Face is “Named for the most challenging side of the mountain” and is “driven by the mantra of Never Stop Exploring™, our expeditions inspire us to test the outer limits of performance and possibility.”

There is no official word on exactly when the store will open in the centre just yet.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

A number of Emmerdale cast members have gone above and beyond to raise money for Cure Usher – a charity close to their hearts – by participating in a sponsored wing walk.

Bradley Riches, Jack Downham, Lawrence Robb and Matthew Wolfenden joined co-star and Cure Usher patron Mark Jordon for the fundraising challenge, alongside seven other brave participants.

‘There were twelve of us in total doing the wing walk,’ Mark told Metro. ‘Two from Denmark who’d come to help raise funds because their little one has just been diagnosed with Usher Syndrome.

‘We also had three cochlear implant wearing walkers and two with Usher Syndrome, plus our four Emmerdale boys.’

And they weren’t the only ones who made the trip out to Leeds East airport, with Emmerdale stars Laura Norton and Katie Hill supporting from the ground.

‘With local families popping by for a few hours or plane watching while eating in the café, we all had an audience as we braced ourself for our individual flights,’ The Daz Spencer star said.

But how does it feel to stand on the back of a plane? According to Mark, it is an ‘ethereal’ experience.

‘I felt so privileged to be in the air and occupying that space at that moment. At one point, I looked down as we passed the fields and I could see the shadow of the biplane with little old me on top of the shadow.

‘I waved, I pretended to swim and I did breakdancing with my arms. I was so happy. I found it to be peaceful and still and very ethereal.’

He went on to describe how, on landing, he was met by partner Laura, who plays Kerry Wyatt in the ITV soap, and their two children, Jesse, five, and Ronnie, three, and was ‘beaming ear to ear’.

‘What a beautiful period of time it was in the air on the back of that plane.’

The other Emmerdale stars had an equally enjoyable experience, with Noah Dingle actor Jack sharing his disappointment that he was unable to perform any loops.

Despite appearing nervous before take off (Understandably so!), Jack was eager to go up again after landing.

‘I asked the pilot if I could do some loop the loops and he said you have to do it on your second flight. I was gutted,’ Jack said.

Having already taken part in a wing walk with pilot Martyn before, Hollyoaks star Matthew, who previously played David Metcalfe in Emmerdale, did get the opportunity experience some aerial acrobatics.

‘The plane kept flying higher and higher to get a good depth for the loops,’ Mark recalled, having watched the flight from the observation deck.

‘Mathew was just a small dot on top of the small plane and very high up in the sky when it dived at breakneck speed towards the ground. Then suddenly the whole plane arched upwards back to the sky and proceeded to do about six loop the loops, one after the other!’

Matthew was met with a huge cheer on landing after the dramatic display, and when asked if he would recommend the experience to anyone wishing to take part in the next Cure Usher wing walking event, he said: ‘Definitely! That is amazing! Everybody should have a go!’

Cure Usher is a hugely important cause to Mark and Laura, whose young children were both diagnosed with Usher Syndrome in 2023. Since then, they have dedicated their time to raising money and awareness for the charity, hosting different events, like their annual Cure Usher Ball.

Along the way, their Emmerdale co-stars have continued to show their support, and Mark and Laura told Metro how much that meant to them when we sat down with them in 2024.

‘We’ve been more than aware of, since our personal journey started, the amount of people who have stepped forward without any hesitation from work and have just committed to sharing that journey with us,’ Mark said.

‘These people are sharing and committing to anything they can do to help us. There’s people saying what they’re planning to do for the charity later down the line and it’s incredible.

‘Everybody has their own life to live and their own problems, but people have jumped on board with this just because we’re part of their family in the workplace and that’s what they want to do for us, for our kids, and that’s amazing.’

It seems the inaugural wing walking event has already proved to be a huge fundraising success.

‘I think we’ve raised over £13,000 and it’s still going up,’ Mark revealed.

‘We have two more days booked in for next year and already half of the places are taken. I would recommend that everybody who is interested do this because, as my description of my flight will tell you, it’s beautiful!’

For more information, and to sign up for next year’s Cure Usher wing walk, visit their website here.

British people are the most miserable in Europe, according to a new analysis.

More than a third of adults in the UK say they have poor mental health, while 30 per cent feel severely depressed, anxious and stressed.

The results leave Britain behind only Japan and South Korea as the most gloomy nation, according to an analysis of mental wellbeing in 18 countries. 

Meanwhile, those who live in Thailand are said to be in the best state of mind, closely followed by residents of Switzerland.

America was ranked relatively high – the sixth happiest nation of all 18 studied.

The analysis, by insurance company AXA and market researchers Ipsos, is based on a survey of 19,000 people between the ages of 18 and 75 from 18 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

Participants from each country were asked questions about how they viewed the state of their mental health, and if they’d suffered conditions like anxiety and depression, as well as chronic stress. 

The responses were then used to calculate a score that indicates which nations have residents with good and poor mental health.

The Daily Mail’s interactive map today reveals their rankings, with countries awarded lower scores indicating poorer overall mental health.

The report found Britons were most troubled by uncertainty about the future, with half of UK respondents saying the rapidly changing world affected their wellbeing. 

Despite the findings, 60 per cent of people with a mental health concern said they had not spoken to a professional in the past year.

A quarter said they feared they’d be judged if they did.

Tara Foley, chief executive of AXA UK & Ireland, described the UK result as ‘deeply concerning’.

‘Our report shows that over a third of the population is impacted by mental health issues, and many people still face barriers to getting the support they need,’ she said.

‘These aren’t just statistics – the numbers represent real lives and real struggles that deserve our attention and compassion.’

Instead of seeking face-to-face help, the research found that Britons are turning to AI for mental health support – despite studies repeatedly finding that it is unreliable for healthcare advice.

Around 46 per cent said they had used the chatbots for mental health support, although this was below the global average of 63 per cent. 

Two in five said they even trusted AI more than a mental health professional for guidance. 

It comes after a separate study led by Oxford University earlier this year found that using AI for medical advice can be dangerous, with the tech giving wrong diagnoses and not recognising when urgent help is required.

The latest figures also suggest that mental ill health in the UK may be more prevalent than official statistics state. 

Widely cited survey data shows one in four people in Britain have a mental illness.

Meanwhile, NHS data suggests that only one in five have been diagnosed with a condition by a medical professional. 

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics earlier this year showed that Britons have consistently felt dissatisfied with life since the Covid pandemic.

At the time it was suggested that the decline in living standards across the UK may be driving the trend.

Japan is also believed to have suffered a mental health crisis during the pandemic.

The proportion of people suffering from depression in the far Eastern nation more than doubled in 2020, rising from 7.9 per cent in 2013 to 17.3 per cent in 2020, according to data from The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The country’s suicide rate also increased in 2020 for the first time in 11 years. 

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare said women had been particularly badly affected by the pandemic. 

At the time the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan put this down to women being trapped physically and mentally.

Officials blamed a rise in domestic violence, the pressures of childcare and caring responsibilities, and the financial strain faced by many people in part-time work.

They also said children struggled after spending long periods at home during school closures.

At the other end of the rankings, Switzerland is often among the world’s happiest countries thanks to its high standard of living, strong economy and healthcare system.

It ranked 10th in the World Happiness Report last year and topped the global rankings in 2015.

Thailand, meanwhile, is often nicknamed the ‘Land of Smiles’ because of its friendly culture. 

The Thai concept of sanuk, meaning fun or enjoyment, encourages people to find pleasure even in everyday tasks and is often cited as one reason for the country’s positive outlook.

Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told CBS News in 2018 that his own nation was not planning to acquire a nuclear weapon, but that “without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible”.

Earlier US media reports suggested the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future – which can be used as fuel for power plants, but also potentially to make nuclear bombs. However, Trump’s remarks appear to deny this.

Rosemary Kelanic, the director of the Middle East programme at the US-based Defense Priorities think tank, said it would be “quite shocking” if the US were to allow Saudi Arabia uranium enrichment facilities.

“The US has never done that before. We have never helped another country enrich on their own soil,” she said, adding that this was because “if you can produce your own nuclear fuel, you become a much bigger risk” for building nuclear weapons.

The agreement will now be sent to the US Congress for review.

Some lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are expected to oppose the deal, though Trump’s Republican Party controls both the upper and lower chambers and opponents of the deal do not appear to have the votes needed to block it.

The wait for answers continues for two grieving parents who lost their newborn son after NHS failings led to him suffering a catastrophic lack of oxygen during labour at a Welsh hospital.

Kianty and Conor Simpson’s son Jacob was born at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen in June 2022. Following complications during his birth he was resuscitated and transferred to Singleton Hospital in Swansea, where he died four days later.

Hywel Dda University Health Board – which manages healthcare across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion – undertook an internal investigation and identified failures in baby Jacob’s care.

These included poor communication, inadequate foetal monitoring, failures to escalate concerns and a lack of transparency about emerging risks. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.

The health board accepted that, but for those failings, Jacob would have survived. However, the investigation did not determine which failings caused his death nor did it fully explain how the tragedy occurred.

Mr and Mrs Simpson are still waiting for those questions to be answered more than four years after Jacob’s death.

On Thursday, July 23, a second pre-inquest review hearing was held in Llanelli Town Hall chaired by the assistant coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Paul Bennett. Mr and Mrs Simpson attended the hearing remotely online, along with their solicitor and representatives from the health board.

Thursday’s hearing concluded without a firm date for a full inquest. Instead, a third pre-inquest review has been set for later in 2026, meaning a full inquest is unlikely to take place until at least next year.

Speaking before the most recent pre-inquest review, Mrs Simpson said: “Four years on, we are still waiting for answers about how and why our son died.

“Every milestone seems to come with another wait. We feel as though our lives have been on hold for years while we try to understand what happened to Jacob.

“We know there were failings in his care, but we still do not know exactly how those failings led to his death or whether lessons have been learned. All we want is the truth about what happened to our son.”

Mr Simpson added: “The long delays are very unfair and have made this incredibly difficult process even more agonising. For years we have been told that answers would come through the inquest, but we are still waiting for that hearing to take place.

“What matters most to us is understanding what happened to Jacob and making sure those circumstances are properly examined, accounted for and learnt from.”

The Simpsons have been supported in their quest for answers by legal firm Switalskis. Chantelle Cooper, associate solicitor at Switalskis, said: “Kianty and Conor have spent almost four years waiting for answers about how and why their son died. After such a long wait, that ongoing uncertainty is incredibly difficult for them.

“The health board has accepted that failings occurred and that Jacob would have survived but for those failings. Yet the questions at the heart of this case remain unanswered.

“Inquests play a vital role in establishing the facts surrounding a death, identifying lessons that can be learned, and providing public scrutiny where serious concerns have been identified. Bereaved families should not have to wait years for that process to take place.”

Speaking at Thursday’s pre-inquest review hearing, assistant coroner Mr Bennett addressed Mr and Mrs Simpson and said: “I am conscious that this has taken a significant amount of time. I want to offer my sincere apologies for that.”

Another pre-inquest review hearing will now take place on October 12.

On Thursday Sharon Daniel, director of nursing, quality and patient experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family who continue to deal with their loss.

“We can’t comment on individual cases because we need to protect our patients’ confidentiality and as the inquest is ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.

“In the event of a serious incident we have robust processes in place for reviewing the incident internally, identifying any issues and, where appropriate, preparing an improvement plan to prevent such an occurrence in the future.

“We regret any such incidents and always seek to learn from them. We try to engage with those directly affected whenever there is a cause for concern.”

Humberside Police has arrested a 40-year-old woman yesterday afternoon (July 22) after she was circulated as wanted on suspicion of robbery and theft from a shop in North Street in Goole.

The incident happened at around 2.20pm on July 9 and saw a woman enter the shop, attempt to steal items, then reportedly assault staff members – who thankfully were not seriously injured.

RECOMMENDED READING:

“From initial enquiries, a woman was subsequently circulated as wanted in connection with the offences, with officers locating and arresting a 40-year-old woman yesterday, as a result,” said a spokesperson for the force.

She has been arrested on suspicion of robbery, four counts of theft from a shop, and using threatening, and abusive behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke violence.

The woman remains in police custody assisting with ongoing police enquiries at this time.

A 44-year-old woman died in hospital on Friday, July 17, after she had been found unresponsive a few days earlier on July 14

Police say further tests are needed to establish the cause of death of a woman who died in hospital after being found unresponsive at a home in Co Down.

A 44-year-old woman died in hospital on Friday, July 17, after she had been found unresponsive a few days earlier on July 14 at a property in the Skipperstone Road area of Bangor.

A 54-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident and was later bailed.

Police have now said that a post mortem examination has now taken place, but further tests by the pathologist are required as part of the investigation.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team are investigating the sudden death of a woman in Bangor.

“Police were called to a property in the Skipperstone Road area at approximately 2am on Tuesday 14 July, where a 44-year-old woman was found unresponsive. Despite treatment in hospital, she sadly died on the evening of Friday 17 July.

“A 54-year-old man, who was arrested on Tuesday 14 July on suspicion of carrying out an assault, was subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries.

“A post mortem examination has now taken place, however, further tests by the pathologist are required to support and inform the investigative process.

“Specialist officers continue to provide support to the family, as the investigation continues.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Chelsea are just getting started with their spending spree. After making Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player in football history with a record-breaking £117m transfer, they are targeting Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and have been handed a major boost despite seeing an opening bid rejected. Leaving Stamford Bridge, though, is Alejandro Garnacho with a loan switch to Aston Villa all agreed.

Andy Burnham today announced a ‘pause’ on Labour’s prison early release scheme amid an outrage at PC Andrew Harper’s killers being freed from jail.

The Prime Minister said he and his new Justice Secretary Alex Norris would conduct an ‘urgent review’ of the policy ahead of its planned start in September.

The move threatens to plunge the prisons system into fresh chaos, with Mr Burnham insisting no prisoners will be released under the scheme until the review is complete.

It will leave officials scrambling to work out prison release plans for thousands of criminals who are due to become eligible for early release after serving as little as a third of their sentence.

The PM indicated the scheme could yet face a major overhaul by Mr Norris, with Mr Burnham saying he would ‘not hesitate’ to make changes.

‘Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority,’ he said in a statement. ‘I am working closely with the new Justice Secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September.

‘No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them.’

Mr Burnham had previously promised to ‘look at’ the scheme as he addressed anger at the possible early release of two of PC Harper’s killers.

PC Harper was 28 when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019 

Under the new Sentencing Act, set to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals are due to be released under the early prison release scheme.

The Government has so far failed to rule out whether killers, rapists and paedophiles will be exempt from the scheme.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers – who were each handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial into PC Harper’s death at the Old Bailey in 2020 – might be eligible to be released early.

Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper, said it was ‘deplorable’ that Cole and Bowers might be released from prison halfway through their sentences. 

PC Harper was 28 when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019.

He died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road as three teenage suspects fled the scene of the burglary.

Cole and Bowers, who were passengers in the car, were both 17 years old at the time. The driver of the vehicle which caused PC Harper’s death, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, and will not be eligible for the early release scheme.

Mrs Harper on Wednesday piled pressure on Mr Burnham to rethink the policy as she said it is ‘deplorable’ that two of her late husband’s killers are being considered for early release. 

Mrs Harper, who was married for just 28 days before PC Harper’s death, said that politicians are ‘making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences’ for the families of victims. 

Debbie Adlam, the mother of PC Harper, said it feels like an ‘insult’ that two of her son’s killers may be eligible for early release from prison.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed Jessie Cole, left, and Albert Bowers might be eligible to be released from prison half-way through their sentences

PC Harper and Lissie Harper were married just four weeks before the Thames Valley Police officer was killed in 2019 

Mr Burnham was this week forced to rebuke his Cabinet ministers for joking about Labour letting prisoners out.

The PM branded it ‘unacceptable’ for Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to quip about Mr Norris wanting to ‘let them all out’.

It came after Mr Streeting said he was ‘sorry for any offence inadvertently caused’ for his remarks to Mr Norris.

Ms Mahmood also said there was ‘no ill intent’ about the ‘ribbing’ of the Justice Secretary, which was caught on camera in a ‘hot mic’ moment.

In the overheard comments, Mr Streeting suggested to Ms Mahmood that Mr Norris was ‘the enemy now’ and ‘wants to let them all out’, with the Home Secretary seen laughing at Mr Streeting’s remarks.

PC Harper responded to the quad bike call just hours after he had been due to clock off and begin his honeymoon with wife Lissie.

After her husband’s death, she campaigned for legal changes to see harsher sentences for the manslaughter of emergency workers on duty.

Harper’s Law was among the new measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

The move extends mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics.

It is not retrospective, meaning PC Harper’s killers cannot have their sentences extended.

Malaysia could return to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 2017 as the sport eyes up contingency plans for the second half of the 2026 season.

After races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled in April due to the conflict in the Middle East, F1 is keen to add to its current 22-race calendar and was hopeful of racing in Bahrain in October, in between already scheduled races in Azerbaijan (26 September) and Singapore (11 October).

However, given the recent escalation in the region after the ending of the US-Iran ceasefire, F1 bosses are seeking alternatives and the Sepang International Circuit, just outside Kuala Lumpur, is one option.

Malaysia withdrew from the sport in 2017 when they couldn’t match the host fees required, yet the racetrack is still used regularly for other series such as MotoGP.

In this instance, its proximity to Singapore means a Europe-Asia triple-header, over the last weekend in September and the first two weekends in October, is feasible.

Talks are ongoing, though a decision will need to be made in the next week, say The Times, for any calendar alteration to be planned logistically.

Turkey’s Istanbul Park, which returns to the sport in 2027, is another potential option.

Another potential scheduling issue ahead for F1, who are keeping an eye on developments in the region nervously given their season is scheduled to end with Qatar (29 November) and Abu Dhabi (6 December), would be to race in Portugal after the third-last race in Las Vegas (21 November).

The Algarve International Circuit is scheduled to return to the calendar next year on a two-year deal, having last hosted a race in the Covid-impacted 2021 season. Other European circuits have also offered to help out if needed, though colder temperatures towards the end of the season could work against them.

However, F1 executives will leave the end-of-season quandary as late as possible, given the huge hosting fees at play for staging the last two races of the season. Abu Dhabi, in particular, pays an estimated £31.5m ($42m) to host the final race of the season every year.

F1 will also race in its first new location in three years in September, when a street circuit in Madrid hosts the new-look Spanish Grand Prix. The sport races in Hungary, the final round before the summer break, this weekend.